A phone call from Pakistan to a Karnataka journalist claiming there would be serial blasts in Kerala on Sunday has sent the police and the government machinery into a tizzy.

"I have been informed by the DGP of Karnataka about the terror threat to Kerala. We spoke to the journalist concerned, who said he had received two calls today - one at 1 pm and another at 3.30 pm," Kerala Police chief Raman Srivastava told PTI.

The DGP convened a high-level meeting to review the security arrangements in the state.

"We are in the maximum state of readiness to deal with any eventuality," Srivastava said, asking people not to panic.

"All my boys are out on the streets. All bus stations and public places are being closely monitored," he said, adding Bomb Disposal Squad and Rapid Action Force have also been pressed into service.

Additional security personnel have also been deployed in public places including railway stations and airports, he said.

Meanwhile, Kerala Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said there was no need to panic and the state police was in touch with their counterparts in Karnataka. He urged people to refrain from spreading rumours.

Police in Kochi have intensified security in the commercial capital of the state.

Ernakulam Range IGP Winson M Paul told PTI that security arrangements were reviewed at a high-level meeting of police officials on Sunday evening.

The meeting was attended among others by Ernakulam Police Commissioner, Manoj Abraham, circle inspectors and other officials.

It was decided to further intensify security arrangements at the railway stations, bus stands, crowded places, parking places, hospital, cinema theatres and parks.

Asked whether there was any specific threat to the city, he said security had been beefed up in view of the general security alert in the state. Bomb squads with the help of sniffer dogs will carry out thorough checks in lodges and hotels in the city, he added.